Azad meets party leaders from Telangana

New Delhi: Consultation process on the Telangana statehood issue gained momentum with Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday meeting a delegation of leaders from the region amid his intention to complete discussions within the party in the next two months.

The delegation consisting of Ministers, MP and MLAs from Telangana met Azad here for the second time in three days and gave a powerpoint presentation on certain issues related to the statehood demand.

While Pedapalli MP G Vivekanand made a presentation on Hyderabad, the most contentious issue, IT Minister Ponnala Laxmaiah gave a presentation on irrigation and agriculture issues.

"Both the leaders emphasised reasons why a separate state of Telangana should be formed. Vivekanand explained the reasons why Hyderabad should be part of the Telangana state," sources said.

Giving a patient hearing to the delegation, Azad told them that he would get back to them after discussions with leaders from two other regions of the state — coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.

Azad, who is the in-charge of party affairs in the state, intends to speed up the consultation process within the Congress and complete it in the next two months.

Ever since Telangana lawmakers put in their papers on July 4, Azad has been meeting leaders of all three regions of the state separately. He has been counselling patience and asking them to wait till the party and the Centre takes a decision on the issue.

The Health Minister will also receive a delegation from the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions tomorrow and will hold discussions with them.

Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh are deeply divided on regional lines and the party has not been in a position to come out with a stand on the issue.